“The author’s expertise, both as a writer of romance and an astute student of history of the period, shines through in this epic adventure.” Abilene Reporter News

“A gritty, realistic drama of early trailblazers crossing the Sierras to settle in California on the eve of its annexation by the U.S.” Booklist

“Linda Sandifer does a fantastic job of bringing the past to life–the real past, not the idealized version we so often read. Raveled Ends of Sky is a novel that celebrates not just the human spirit, but the spirt of women. A journey of discovery every reader will enjoy! A joy to read!” The Literary Times

Raveled Ends of Sky is the epic saga of a single woman’s 1843 journey across the wild American frontier to pursue her dream in the Mexican Province of California. Nancy Maguire, a 26-year-old spinster and blue blood from Boston, rejects her parents desire for her to accept a “suitable” husband and settle down. She dreams of owning her own horse ranch and being free from the strict social restrictions placed on women in the East.

Following her heart, she tries to join the first wagon train heading to California but quickly learns that even here on the frontier women don’t have the same rights and equalities as men. She’s told she can’t join unless she finds a traveling companion. But Hart Daniels, the scout, is smitten with her. He arranges for her to join up with rough-spoken mule-skinner, Lottie England, a widow who becomes an irreplaceable friend to Nancy.

With great courage, Nancy and her companions face insurmountable obstacles and near-death on the dangerous overland journey, only to have their lives and dreams threatened again as California moves steadily toward war.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Deriving her narrative from actual accounts of pioneer women, first-time author Sandifer tells an engaging adventure story of two unmarried women who make the arduous covered-wagon trek across country in the mid-1840s. Twenty-six-year-old Nancy Maguire's proper Massachusetts family strenuously argues against her leaving home to follow her dream of raising horses in the Mexican province of California. Nancy is reluctantly accepted by the Joseph Ballinger Chiles company to travel with them to California?but only if she can find a traveling companion. Fiery Lottie England, meanwhile, having decided that she has seen enough of Independence, Mo., the trip's starting point, joins up with Nancy and, in time, becomes her best friend. Anticipation builds as the wagons roll west: "the canvas tops swayed with the motion, and from a distance, the train resembled a long white scarf rippling in the faintest of breezes." Drenching her story in authentic detail, Sandifer vivifies the terrible hazards faced by these pioneers. While the author doesn't sustain the sense of drama as vigorously once the party reaches California, readers will remain involved with her appealing characters. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Nancy Maguire, a spirited young woman determined to escape the stifling society of New England, sets off for California in this near mythic tale of a quest for freedom and independence on the American frontier. After joining a wagon train, Nancy makes two friends: Lottie England, a feisty widow with a mouth that could make even the most hardened frontiersman blush, and Hart Daniels, a handsome man with a spirit as fiercely individualistic as Nancy's. While the two women quickly develop a deep and lasting friendship, Nancy's relationship with Hart becomes romantic, and she begins to realize that her desire for freedom does not have to be forfeited by falling in love. Although Sandifer's dialogue is a bit strained and her descriptions are too flowery, her story is well developed; and her use of diaries and historical facts results in a gritty, realistic drama of early trailblazers crossing the Sierras to settle in California on the eve of its annexation by the U.S. Catherine Sias

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While Romance is not my cup of tea, history - accurately researched history - emphatically is. This novel is not only well researched, it comes with a bibliography. I felt that Ms. Sandifer custom fit her characters into historical fact, even to the extent of enrolling her two women protagonists on the Chiles wagon train to California, an actual party westward bound in 1843. While her emphasis on strong adventurous women in history must draw many readers, it was not central to my interest (OK, I'm a guy) but in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the story. The author relates the day to day experience of traveling in a wagon train in terms of experiencing the personalities so closely thrust together. If I were to look for a complaint, I might suggest that the chronological extent of a novel encompassing Nancy Maguire's life from Independence, Missouri to just before the gold strike on a ranch in California is somewhat ambitious for the detail required to present the history accurately and at the same time maintain an intriguing plot.

I have been reading fictional history stories about the settling of our great country lately. It gives me a new respect for those people who were so brave and daring. This book was great because it is about women and not just men. I think many times the women are forgotten about. The women in this book are not all alike but they all have the same strength and courage.

It was hard to put this book down. From what I have read of the great migration west, the details of the journey seemed right on. It was a great historical book and a great romance. I enjoyed the length of the book as it allowed the continuation of the story beyond what is usual for an e-book.

I felt like I had experienced a lesson in Western history as we journeyed across the country. Ms. Sandifer's descriptions arevivid and real. As a small boy of nine or ten, I used to go withmy father when he trailed his small band of sheep from grazingground to grazing ground. Ms. Sandifer's book created virtualreality for me and I was right back on the trail reliving thosedays trailing sheep with my dad. I could feel the hard groundthat we slept on, could smell the coffee as it brewed on the openfire.I'm not one who enjoys long narrative digressions from the mainstory, and while she takes us on some descriptive detail anddigression, Ms. Sandifer knows exactly when to pull us back to the story before we lose interest.You'll love Nancy Mcguire's quiet strength as well as LottieEngland's colorful and audacious strength and spunk. Hart Daniels and Colonel Joseph Chiles are the kind of men we all longto be--men's men; gentle and tender when necessary, and toughwhen the occasion calls for it; but always strong. If you're a Western reader who enjoys authentic Western lore, you will enjoy this book immensely. In my opinion, a real Western classic.

I really enjoyed the story. I love the original perspective of single women making the trip west. 5 stars for the book! The narration? Oh My... I really don't know how to describe it. I was using my home stereo on a Saturday while getting my home back in order. I was so embarrassed each time my husband came in from his projects outside to cool off. It was absolutely comical. From the corny voices to the slaughter of the Spanish vocabulary. It made it very difficult to listen to the story. I appreciate the effort but it missed the mark. Maybe a 1 for the narration?

Raveled Ends of Sky was an excellent book! At first I thought Hart's name was a little odd but I really liked him. He and Nancy made a great couple. I wish that we could have found out what happened to Lottie and Carlito though. I hope they finally admited their love to eachother and lived happily ever after, like Hart and Nancy. I would definately read any sequals that may come, especially dealing with Lottie and Carlito. :)

Linda Sandifer has captured the true pioneer adventure west. Well researched, developed and written, her characters will linger in your mind and heart long after you finish the book. So be sure to climb aboard the wagon train and hold on tight. You're in for great ride!